Ashkelon, Israel (January 12, 2022) — The Israel Lacrosse Association has named Brad MacArthur and Max Silberlicht as Head Coach and Assistant Coach, respectively, for the blue-and-white’s entry in The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.
MacArthur has been the driving force behind the success of Israel’s national box lacrosse program, culminating in a Gold Medal result at the 2017 European Box Championships and a pair of top-five finishes at World Indoors. He holds a 14-7 record as Israel’s head coach in major quadrennial championship events, including a Blue Division schedule (against Canada, USA, etc.) in 2019.
MacArthur is credited with training and developing Israel’s inexperienced field lacrosse player pool, making multiple trips to Europe to Israel’s annual box lacrosse training camps in Czech Republic.
Silberlicht, who took the reigns as head coach of the Israel men’s field program in 2019, previously served as head coach of Latvia from 2016-2018, leading their men’s national team to a program-best #18 world ranking following the 2018 World Championship. He also has an extensive resume coaching at the NCAA ranks in the United States, serving as an assistant coach at Boston University for four seasons, at Bowdoin College for five seasons, and at Lynchburg College for two seasons.
“This new game of sixes really combines the gameplay and strategy box and field lacrosse. We’re very fortunate to have two experts from very different backgrounds who are coming together as we put our best foot forward on the path to the 2028 Olympics. Brad has a proven track record of success as player and coach, from Gold Medals with Israel and Championships in Canada. Max brings us a wealth of experience as well, from his success coaching at both the NCAA and international ranks, which will help us tremendously.”
-Bill Beroza, Men’s National Teams Chair
The new sixes discipline, which features a combination of elements of the traditional box and field games, has been played in a handful of exhibition games and small regional tournaments. However, Birmingham will be the first true test for the new version of the sport, with Israel joining traditional powerhouses such as USA, Canada and Iroquois with medals at stake.
MacArthur and Silberlicht have already begun collaborations to select a 10-man roster, primarily considering athletes from the rosters at the most recent men’s world championships for box (2019) and field (2018).
The World Games 2022 are a multi-sport competition featuring 3,600 athletes in 30+ unique, multi-disciplinary sports. The Games feature the debut of “Lacrosse Sixes”, as lacrosse hopes to continue to shape itself for inclusion in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Israel is one of eight countries invited to Birmingham for lacrosse.
For more information regarding Israel’s men’s program, please contact Seth Mahler at seth@lacrosse.co.il.
